The best country pubs with rooms in the UK
There is a joy to be had in discovering a welcoming pub with delicious food and a convivial atmosphere - and then finding the rooms above to be stylishly and comfortably decorated. If you're planning a UK holiday, then pubs can be some of the most charming places to stay, certainly when travelling in the country. When you know that you have a beautiful and cosy base to explore from, it makes travelling a delight. We’ve scoured the country to find the best, most welcoming and beautifully styled inns to lay your head.
1/25The Bell, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
Location: Conveniently located in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds on the train line from London, the apparently sleepy village of Charlbury is within striking distance of Blenheim Palace, Cornbury Park, and plenty of other lovely villages, including Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold.
Rooms: There are 12 individually decorated rooms (cosy, classic, spacious, and family), with eight above the pub and four upstairs in The Barn, which is used for private events and as an additional dining space at weekends. Craft is key, from four-poster beds built using wood from Daylesford Organic Farm to the handblock wallpaper made in Oxfordshire. Fabrics from Nila, a charitable organisation spearheaded by Carole Bamford which is dedicated to preserving natural dye and handloom traditions of rural India, have been used throughout.
Food: The Bell is part of the Daylesford Group, so the majority of produce on the menu comes from Daylesford Organic Farm or its sister Wootton Estate in Staffordshire. Executive chef Alan Gleeson oversees food at both The Fox and here, where stand-outs include the sweetest heritage tomatoes, stracciatella and basil starter, moules marinière and, for dessert, roasted plums, mascarpone and crushed amaretti.
Selling point: Come for the full Daylesford experience. Nearby Daylesford Organic Farm has a shop, Michelin Green Star café, cookery school, Bamford Wellness Spa and The Old Spot restaurant. If you don’t have a car, ask about the complimentary Land Rover drop-off service.
Doubles from £194, including breakfast. The Bell, 1 Church Street, Charlbury, Chipping Norton OX7 3PP
2/25The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe, Somerset
Location: Batcombe is a delightfully rural village in the rolling Somerset countryside, and it's a short hop to Bruton, otherwise known as the Notting Hill of the West Country, with enough art galleries, high end restaurants and shops to keep the fussiest city dweller occupied for a weekend.
Rooms: The pub has five bedrooms each very generously sized and decorated with easy elegance by Frances Penn, daughter of David Mlinaric. The palette range is simple but not bland; floors are wooden overlaid with rugs; headboards and curtains are hefty linens; furniture, lighting and art are a carefully curated blend of antique and contemporary; beds are huge, bathrooms properly spacious.
Food: Food is a highlight here, as the creative brains behind the pub is Margot Henderson of Rochelle Canteen. The menu includes simple but delicious dishes (pork chops, confit of duck, chicken and tarragon pie, excellent chips) along with suitably challenging options – grilled ox heart, brawn and pig’s head croquettes.
Selling point: The Three Horseshoes has impeccable credentials on every level, from the food and interior design to the gardens by Libby Russell and the owner himself, Max Wigram, former London gallerist and husband of fashion designer Phoebe Philo.
Doubles from £220, including breakfast. thethreehorseshoesbatcombe.co.uk, Batcombe, Shepton Mallet BA4 6HE
Helen Cathcart3/25The Bear, Hodnet, Shropshire
Location: In a central spot in the village of Hodnet in Shropshire, opposite a Norman church and the beautiful Hodnet Hall Gardens. Market Drayton is just over five miles away.
Rooms: After a complete renovation with interiors designed by Octavia Dickinson, the rooms blend a sense of the 18th-century inn’s history with modern requirements. There are 12 individually designed bedrooms featuring heavy curtains, original artwork and beds dressed in crisp linen and woolen blankets. Some rooms have a bath and toiletries are by Hæckels.
Food: The pub is owned by the Hodnet Estate but run by Mel and Martin Board, who also own the Haughmond near Shrewsbury, which has three AA rosettes and a spot in the Michelin Guide, so food at The Bear is understandably very good. Everything is sourced locally – some of the butcher’s cuts are from their own cattle and much of the fruit, vegetables and herbs is from their walled garden.
Selling point: A fun historical backstory: tunnels and cellars beneath the pub hid rebellious monks from church officials in the 1700s, and served as smuggling routes.
Rooms from £110, including breakfast. The Bear Inn, Drayton Road, Hodnet, Shropshire TF9 3NH, 01630 685 214
4/25The Double Red Duke, Clanfield, Oxfordshire
Location: A vine-covered, 17th-century, honey-stoned pub on the outskirts of the village of Clanfield on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds – a 15-minute drive from Burford and a great base to explore.
Rooms: The 19 bedrooms, which were all refurbished when the current owners Georgie and Sam Pearman took over the pub and renovated it during lockdown, each have individual design touches from striking wallpaper to colourful headboards. They are furnished with vintage furniture and Roberts radios, while the bathrooms (some with roll-top baths) are decked out with Georgie’s product range, 100 Acres.
Food: The pub serves bold, confident cooking, which ranges from traditional pub classics to more nuanced fine dining; the menu is pleasingly short, but with a roster of daily specials. The open kitchen adds a fun air of spectacle (you can book a seat directly overlooking it).
Selling point: The little spa, situated in a shepherd’s hut in the garden, where you can book treatments such as a relaxing massage using the 100 Acres products.
Rooms from £120 per night, including Continental breakfast; The Double Red Duke, Bourton Rd, Clanfield, Bampton, OX18 2RB. 01367 810222
Tom Griffiths5/25The Alice Hawthorn, Yorkshire
Location: Halfway beween the charming tourist destinations of Harrogate and York, in the village of Nun Monkton where time seems to have stood still for centuries.
Rooms: The old pub building has four rooms, but a series of beautifully detailed timber-framed, larch-clad buildings at the back contain eight further bedrooms, completely modern in spirit and design. The new bedrooms are almost Scandinavian in style, lined with larch boarding and poplar plywood. Furnishings are comfortable yet minimalist with headboards made of fabric panels between timber studs.
Food: Chef John Topham uses seasonal local ingredients to produce dishes with a strong Yorkshire inflection.
Selling point: Sustainability underpins every aspect of the design, from the heating to the natural ventilation through clerestory windows.
Rooms from £150 including breakfast. The Alice Hawthorn, The Green, Nun Monkton, York, YO26 8EW. 01423 330303.
6/25Bradley Hare, Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire
Location: On the edge of a main road that strikes through the heart of rural Wiltshire, the pub – formerly The Somerset Arms – sits on the edge of the Duke of Somerset’s estate.
Rooms: There are 12 rooms (seven smaller ones in the main house and five in the Coach House behind) all individually designed featuring a gentle smattering of 18th- and 19th-century antique furniture, unique fabrics and striking art prints. Some have baths in the rooms, while bathrooms feature huge rain showers and luxury eco products. The design is courtesy of co-owner James Thurstan Waterworth, a former European design director for Soho House, and a chic, laid-back feeling of luxury shines throughout the property.
Food: Traditional pub fare gets a smart reimagining under the direction of chef Nye Smith, who previously worked at The Newt in Somerset, and the kitchen has an admirable zero-waste philosophy and commitment to seasonality.
Selling point: The cocktails: the Seasonal Sour is not to be missed.
Rooms from £135 midweek, including breakfast; The Bradley Hare, Church Street, Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire, BA12 7HW. 01985 801018
7/25The Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market, Norfolk
Location: Arriving at the Gunton Arms is magical. Situated in the vast, early 18th-century deer park of Gunton Hall, the feeling of space and opportunities to explore stretch out as soon as you get out of the car. It is ten minutes away from Cromer beach, and a good base to explore Holkham and Wells-next-the-Sea further up the coast.
Rooms: After the opening of the coach house and barn house conversions there are now 16 rooms decorated by the designer Robert Kime in his signature elegant country house style with luxurious fabrics, layers of texture and subtle lighting. The property is owned by art dealer Ivor Braka, so art on the walls includes neon works by Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst’s butterflies and an etching by Lucian Freud. Outside there are more sculptures to enjoy.
Food: Chef Stuart Tattersall (ex-head chef at Mark Hix) cooks on an open wood fire in the heart of the dining room, giving a medieval-banquet vibe to the feast. The Gunton specialises in locally-sourced meat, from sirloin steaks, pork chops and Gunton venison sausages to a rib of beef to share. A children’s menu is available, along with excellent Gunton art-themed activity sheets to help keep them amused.
Selling point: For those with families it is a welcoming and stress-free place to bring children whilst enjoying luxurious surroundings. The coach house has rooms with twin rooms adjoining the main room, with room service available. Dogs are very welcome, too.
Rooms start at £99 for a small standard double, including breakfast. The Gunton Arms, Cromer Road, Thorpe Market, Norfolk NR11 8TZ. 01263 832010
Jake Eastham8/25The Duncombe Arms, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Location: Set amidst the rolling hills of the Derbyshire Dales, which you wake up to when you open your curtains, there are excellent walks right from the property, or for more serious hikes, it’s only five miles from the Peak District National Park. If you’re after further thrills, it’s a 10-minute drive to Alton Towers.
Rooms: There are 10 bedrooms in the Walnut House, a sympathetic annex designed to look like a barn conversion, with modern décor designed by the co-owner Laura featuring Fired Earth tiles in the bathrooms (with baths with Bamford toiletries), linen headboards above extremely comfortable beds and views out over the Dales. Art work on the walls is chosen by Crane Gallery in Mayfair, and is available to buy.
Food: Extremely good, hearty pub food such as steak and chips sits alongside more delicate options. The wine list is excellent and the bartender is happy to let you try until you find your perfect match. Breakfast is a hearty Derbyshire fry-up (or yoghurt and fruit if you prefer) and is included in the room rate.
Selling point: From the minute you arrive you feel like you’ve dropped into a bustling local, with chatty, helpful (but not intrusive) staff, led by general manager James Oddy, a joyful atmosphere and in winter, a roaring fire to warm up next to.
Rooms from £195 including breakfast; The Duncombe Arms, Main Road, Ellastone, Ashbourne DE6 2GZ. 01335 324275.
Seth Carnill9/25The Rose, Deal, Kent
Location: Right in the heart of Deal, a six-minute walk from the train station and on the main high street surrounded by tempting independent shops, cafes and restaurants. It’s also only a couple of streets back from the seafront; the seagulls circling overhead let you know you’re close.
Rooms: The Rose was restored by its current owners, Alex Bagner and Christopher Hicks, with the help of interior designer Nichola Harding, and features her signature style of gorgeously unexpected colour pairings, such as sea-green walls with velvet orange headboards, wall hangings and vintage tapestries in bamboo frames. All eight bedrooms have luxurious private bathrooms featuring Norfolk brand Austin Austin Organic toiletries, with the larger rooms featuring baths. Some rooms can accommodate children on mattresses and babies in cots, and dogs are welcome to stay. A sweet final touch is the communal hallway bars, with tea, coffee, biscuits and a decanter of brandy, should you fancy a nightcap.
Food: They take food seriously at The Rose, and it is seriously good. Seasonal and, where possible, local ingredients shine from dishes like cured sea trout, charcoal cream and celeriac ribbon for starters to the slow-roasted pork belly with purple sprouting broccoli and anchovy aioli for a main course. Vegan and vegetarians are also more than catered for with hero menu dishes such as confit tomatoes served with turnips made to look like delicate clams. Cocktails like blood-orange margaritas and desserts including the rich chocolate and olive oil mousse complete the feast. Breakfast is included, with the bacon bap and rhubarb compote not to be missed.
Selling point: The cosy fire in the winter to sip cocktails by, or the little garden that is open once the weather heats up to nibble on seafood snacks and glasses of rosé.
Rooms start from £100 – midweek deals apply. The Rose, 91 High St, Deal CT14 6ED. 01304 389127
Chris Gorman10/25The New Inn, Tresco, Isles of Scilly
Location: In the middle of Tresco Island, in the New Grimsby harbour, which is a great base to explore the car-free island. It’s a short walk to coastal paths to the north of the island.
Rooms: The New Inn has just undergone a major renovation, refreshing the whole pub and its 16 rooms by interior designer Tania Streeter. The rooms retain traditional features, but include stylish new touches, such as bedframes covered in a Fermoie fabric (who have also created a bespoke colourway for the pub’s new blinds) and bedside tables handmade by Alfred Newall.
Food: Think locally sourced dishes such as Cornish Chateaubriand, lobster or freshly-caught mackerel, cooked in the summer months on the new outdoor grill. A new terrace area means on warm nights you can dine under the stars, while on colder evenings, there is a log burner in the Pavillion.
Selling point: The inn has an outdoor pool and guests also get access to the local spa.
Rooms from £185; The New Inn, New Grimsby, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, TR24 0QQ. 01720 423006
11/25The Wild Rabbit, Kingham, Oxfordshire
Location: The pub forms the beating heart of the village of Kingham, with a village green opposite, and miles of green fields around. It’s a 25-minute romp to Daylesford farm shop (or a two-minute drive) and a great starting point for exploring the Cotswolds.
Rooms: There are 13 large, smart bedrooms above the pub, decorated sensitively to the 18th-century building, with exposed stone walls, soft linen curtains, a super king four poster bed made from silver birch and soft lighting. The bathroom is filled with Bamford toiletries and soft Volga linen towels and dressing gown.
Food: New executive chef Sam Bowser has recently joined, bringing a new energy to the kitchen. A multi-course tasting menu is on offer, as is an à la carte offering, featuring dishes like mackerel tartare with a delicate wasabi dressing and lemon dover sole with capers. This being a Daylesford brand, seasonality is at the heart of the cooking, with vegetables, such as flowering sprouts, earning pride of place on the plates.
Selling point: Understated luxury with the highest restaurant quality food and service, but in a cosy setting. Plus a roaring fire when you enter on a chilly day.
Rooms from £125 per night including breakfast; The Wild Rabbit, Church Street, Kingham, Oxfordshire, OX7 6YA. 01608 658389
12/25The Rose & Crown, Romaldkirk, County Durham
Location: The 18th-century coaching inn sits in the middle of the postcard-pretty village of Romaldkirk. There are lung-busting walks – including the Teesdale Way – straight out of the property across fields and moorland, while the High Force waterfall is a trip worth making. Eggleston Hall gardens and Barnard Castle market town – antique shops, Bowes Museum – are five to 20 minutes’ drive away.
Rooms: Twelve bedrooms with high beamed ceilings and exposed stone are spread between the main building, a courtyard mews and a cottage around the corner. They are decorated in a relaxed country style with a mix of antiques and vintage pieces, such as comfy battered armchairs, along with new, locally made furniture. Two rooms are family-friendly; one suite which can accommodate a cot, the other a sofa bed in a separate room, while most of the rooms are dog-friendly (no charge) with treats.
Food: The candle-lit dining room sets a lovely backdrop for the seasonal, local food prepared by head chef Dave Hunter. There is a mix of hearty “pub grub” such as outdoor-reared ‘hog roast’ sausages and mash and more delicate offerings, but all are presented beautifully.
Selling point: The hotel is set up for explorers with OS maps available to borrow, packed lunches on request and a drying room and bike storage for when you return from the routes around the North Pennines.
Rooms from £140, including breakfast; The Rose & Crown, Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle DL12 9EB
13/25The Pheasant, Hungerford, Berkshire
Location: On the edge of the Berkshire Downs, with glorious views, but conveniently located just off the M4. Historic Hungerford and Highclere Castle are both nearby.
Rooms: New bedrooms added on to the pub (along with a new restaurant) have recently been designed by interior designer Isabella Worsley, who brings her signature style of sumptuous fabric choices from headboards to curtains to the rooms. The finishing touches make the stay, from goose-down duvets to fluffy bathrobes. Children are welcome, with a small charge for extra beds.
Food: Hearty but elegant traditional food, from the light fillet carpaccio to the indulgent Chateaubriand. Sunday roasts are legendary, showcasing local meat from pork belly to strip loin.
Selling point: The pub is evidently at the heart of its community and is popular with locals, giving off a buzzing, welcoming vibe. It has its own ale – Pheasant Ale – and the bar stocks more than 30 varieties of gin. Plus there are plenty of carefully designed nooks to enjoy your drink in peace, if you desire.
Rooms from £160, including breakfast; The Pheasant Inn, Ermin Street, Shefford Woodlands, Hungerford RG17 7AA, England. 01488 648284
14/25The Howard Arms, Warwickshire
Location Right on the northerly edge of the Cotswolds AONB, the village of Ilmington is idyllic. It's small, quiet and oh-so-pretty with two pubs, and just a short drive from Stratford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Shipston-on-Stour and many other attractions.
Rooms The pub retains a historic feel for its 400-year-old heritage with flagstone floors and cosy window seats, original fireplaces and wood panelling while the rooms are modern, clean and well-appointed. They each have a different name and personality; one with dark wooden beams and an imposing bed, two set in the eaves but spacious and more modern. All have every amenity and are exceptionally comfortable.
Food The menu changes constantly at The Howard Arms, but it always centres around seasonal produce and modern takes on pub classics. Whether you opt for the soup of the day or a grilled Cotswold lamb chop atop olive oil mash, it's all superb and breakfast is no exception either with a menu that allows you to put together your ideal start to the day.
Selling point The Howard Arms is everything you want from a country pub: old world charm, real ales and cracking food. The staff couldn’t be more friendly, the setting more idyllic and there’s a sprawling beer garden with sheep at one end to complete the picture.
Facts Rooms from £150. The Howard Arms, Lower Green, Ilmington, Shipston-on-Stour, CV36 4LT, 01608 682 226
15/25The New Inn, Gloucestershire
Location Coln St Aldwyns is a country village just east of Cirencester and on the southern edge of the AONB in the Cotswolds. It's well placed for the Oxfordshire aspect of the Cotswolds with easy access to many well known places such as Witney and Burford and also not too far from London.
Rooms All the rooms – as with most country pubs – are different in style and the team can advise on which to book for what you're after. Some are set in the eaves, long and bright with a suite-like feel while others are more romantic, like the room with a freestanding tub in the bedroom. They're all charming, clean and modern, while retaining a country house style.
Food While the New Inn may have the feel of an old world country pub, it is in fact a thoroughly modern affair by Baz & Fred, publicans who also own the nearby The Stump. There, the menu centres around pizza whereas the New Inn centres around burgers – the mushroom burger is perhaps the best veggie burger we've tried. There is also a tempting selection of small plates and a smaller option for larger ones when a burger just doesn't float your boat.
Selling Point Set up by young foodies Baz & Fred, The New Inn is a fresh take on a country pub with a modern spin and all the comfort.
Facts Rooms from £85 a night, B&B. The New Inn, Main Street, Coln St Aldwyns, Cirencester GL7 5AN, 01285 750651
16/25The Wheatsheaf Inn
Location Northleach is right off the Fosse Way, the main road that runs north to south through Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold and offers easy access to all the highlights of the Cotswolds. It's a classically pretty village with a claim to fame, more on which later...
Rooms The rooms vary in size, from 'Excellent' rooms with vast beds and freestanding tubs, down to 'Cosy' rooms which manage to fit everything in to compact spaces. The latter is probably best for a one night stopover, while the larger rooms offer more space and comfort to spread out. All the rooms are sympathetically furnished and have a cosy, country feel.
Food The Wheatsheaf Inn is notoriously popular and buzzing at every time of day, especially during summer when locals and tourists alike flock to the sunny, sprawling terrace to feast on the menu. There are classics like bavette steak and peppercorn sauce but the enticing menu reads more like a modern British restaurant than a pub and has so much on offer. Breakfast is a more traditional, very well executed, affair.
Selling point The food and its ongoing popularity as one of the best pubs in the area are a huge draw however there is a big selling point for fans of Daisy May Cooper's This Country, as Northleach is where the show was filmed. The other pub in the village is in fact The Keepers Arms, the central square is instantly recognisable and you can even see Kerry's house.
Facts Rooms from £136. The Wheatsheaf Inn, West Road, Northleach, Cheltenham GL54 3EZ
17/25The Lygon Arms, Broadway, Worcestershire
Location The village of Broadway is one of the most northerly villages in the Cotswolds, full of characteristic golden stone and green lawns. The Lygon Arms boasts a beautiful seventeenth-century main building looking onto the main street.
Rooms The hotel is Tardis-like in its capacity, boasting 80 rooms, including luxury suites and more compact accommodation. The crown jewel is a suite in which Charles II mustered his troops prior to the Battle of Worcester in 1651 - all dark wood panelling and antique furniture, but with a sleek modern bathroom and all the amenities you could want.
Food The Bar and Grill serves up classics like roast chicken, lamb shoulder, and of course fish and chips. It's simple British food very well-prepared, served in a lovely setting - a petrol-blue barrel-vaulted hall that's the perfect blend of traditional and modern. The hotel also owns a wine bar next door which serves Italian small plates and pizzas for more casual dining.
Selling point So many. The pretty garden at the back. The cocktail bar. And of course the gorgeous spa which is open to guests. There's a very stylish Victorian-style pool with cast-iron pillars, a roof terrace where you can sun yourself with a cocktail, and all kinds of indulgent treatments on offer.
Facts Rooms from £180. The Lygon Arms, High St, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7DU, 01386 852 255
18/25The Rose & Crown, Norfolk
Location With roses climbing up its white walls, The Rose & Crown is hard to miss in the charmingly sleepy village of Snettisham, a short drive from Norfolk's west coast.
Rooms Despite the inn's fourteenth-century origins, the 16 rooms are light and airy. In our pastel-hued staircase room, the bathroom had a satisfyingly modern shower. Eager for tea after a bracing beach walk, we were pleased to discover fresh milk available.
Food Alongside well-presented pub classics and nods to the locality - such as Cromer crab spaghetti - there's a modish hint of Ottolenghi's influence in starters like hot smoked mackerel with butternut and pomegranate, served in the three buzzing restaurant rooms.
Selling point In contrast to chain hotels, The Rose & Crown is clearly stamped with the personality of its owners (who also own the Bank House hotel in nearby King's Lynn).
Facts Rooms from £100. The Rose & Crown, Snettisham. 01485-541382.
19/25The Gurnard's Head, Cornwall
Location This secluded spot at the edge of west Cornwall is sandwiched in between sheep-speckled moorland and the rugged Cornish coastline; the Atlantic cliffs are just a 10-minute walk away.
Rooms The seven rooms have a rustic, cosy character: fresh flowers, mustard-yellow walls, Roberts radios, Welsh blankets and stashes of classic books. Room seven is the largest, with views to the ocean.
Food There is a wide range of wines and ales to complement the daily changing menu of simple and delicious, locally sourced food. Fish is often delivered from day boats - the smoked Newlyn haddock with poached duck egg was a notably tasty dish.
Selling point The awe-inspiring coastline. Take the footpath down to the headland for seal spotting, or walk 20 minutes to Porthmeor Cove, the closest beach. Fishing and foraging walks can be arranged through the pub.
Facts Rooms from £115. The Gurnard's Head, near Zennor, St Ives. 01736-796928.
20/25The Old Stocks Inn, Gloucestershire
Location Right on Stow-on-the-Wold's pretty market square, this is housed in what was once a seventeenth-century coaching inn. A charming illustrated map of the area's highlights is provided, making it perfect for Cotswold novices.
Rooms There are 16 contemporary and relaxed rooms featuring original beams and exposed stone walls. One of the family rooms has a 'bunker' for children with triple bunk beds and a games console to keep them entertained. Double rooms have a roll-top bath and a complimentary minibar.
Food With a menu that is seasonal, modern and hearty, the restaurant is a draw in its own right. All food, and many of the beers and spirits, are locally sourced. The blade of beef was tender and delicious, and the burgers looked good, too.
Selling point This is a modern-thinking inn with great attention to all of the details - from the in-room Nespresso machines and generous toiletries from Aromatherapy Associates to the excellent cocktail menu at the bar.
Facts Rooms from £119. The Old Stocks Inn, Stow-on-the-Wold. 01451-830666.
21/25Lord Crewe Arms, County Durham
Location The honey-coloured village of Blanchland nestles in the picturesque wooded Derwent Valley - a North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Built from the remains of a twelfth-century abbot's lodge for the nearby Blanchland Abbey, the inn has played host to the likes of W H Auden and Philip Larkin.
Rooms Harking back to its medieval roots, many of the rooms feature ogee-arched windows and stone chimneypieces. The decoration is comfortable, elegant and stylish, with homely touches including jars of fudge and well-thumbed poetry books.
Food The excellent modern British menu is made with home-grown and local produce. Start with a G&T in the atmospheric Crypt Bar, a subterranean medieval vaulted room. For the full experience, have breakfast in bed.
Selling point This is a perfect weekend escape for those wanting comfort, a dash of romance and beautiful countryside (there's fishing, cycling and walking right on the doorstep).
Facts Rooms from £99. Lord Crewe Arms, Blanchland, Northumberland. 01434-677100.
22/25The Talbot Inn, Somerset
Location Only a stone's throw from the fifteenth-century St Andrew's Church in the exquisite Somerset village of Mells. Much of the inn, accessed via an archway, is dotted around a pretty cobbled courtyard.
Rooms The higgledy-piggledy interior conceals eight rooms, which - whether small or large - are beautifully designed. Go for room one with its white four-poster bed and in-room roll-top bath. Room seven has two bedrooms, so it's perfect for travelling with children.
Food Delicious, seasonal fare with much of the produce coming from the inn's kitchen garden. At weekends, food in the Coach House Grill Room is cooked on an open charcoal and wood fire, and served at communal dining tables.
Selling point The on-site cookery school, Kitchen Table Cookery, offers one- and two-day courses, which are led by the Talbot Inn chef Clare Liardet and the cookery writer Joanna Weinberg. There are also weekly drop-in demonstrations and tastings.
Facts Rooms from £100. The Talbot Inn, Mells. 01373-812254.
23/25The Greyhound on the Test, Hampshire
Location Situated at one end of the high street in the village of Stockbridge. At the back, beyond a sunny dining terrace, is the River Test and the pub's half mile of double-bank fishing.
Rooms Most of the 10 rooms are painted in a dark palette with lighter, pretty fabrics. Leet 3 has the best bathroom; Room 7 is the biggest and the quietest.
Food This is a cut above your average pub menu, with a definite emphasis on local produce - smoked Test trout and Stockbridge mushrooms, for example.
Selling point Trout fishing. This part of Hampshire is a fly fisherman's paradise and the pub manages up to 70 local beats on the Test, the Itchen and the Avon rivers, and caters for private fishing parties from April to October.
Facts Rooms from £140. The Greyhound on the Test, Stockbridge. 01264-810833.
Nigel Chapman24/25The Running Horses, Surrey
Location Only a short drive from London, Mickleham is set within the rural Surrey Hills. The undulating Downs make the area a real hotspot for cycling - so be prepared for Lycra-clad bikers whizzing past your window.
Rooms There are five, all with suitably equine names - the pub was once a favourite for stabling horses racing at Epsom. Ascot has panelled walls and a view of the Norman church opposite.
Food The restaurant is clearly popular with locals and was packed on a Saturday night. Traditional British fare prevails - the calf's liver main course was particularly good - and hearty helpings left little room for pudding.
Selling point This is a surprising bolthole in a quiet corner of the commuter belt - ideal for those wanting a quick injection of rural life. If something a little more active appeals, bikes are available to borrow and Box Hill is good for a gentle amble.
Facts Rooms from £110. The Running Horses, Mickleham, near Dorking. 01372-372279.
25/25The Plough, Oxfordshire
Location A 25-minute drive west from Oxford, Kelmscott is one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. A stone's throw from the Thames path (see 'Tales of the riverbank' overleaf), it makes a good starting point for beautiful walks along the river.
Rooms The eight rooms in the Grade II-listed, seventeenth-century inn are unfussy and decorated with paints and fabrics in soft colours. Room three has a roll-top bath; room four is the largest.
Food It is clear the food is locally sourced and seasonal. During my visit, the new-season English asparagus and the sea trout with samphire and avocado was particularly delicious.
Selling point The Plough is only a two-minute walk from Kelmscott Manor, William Morris's former country retreat. Open every Wednesday and Saturday from April until October, the sixteenth-century manor is crammed with Morris's designs.
Facts From £70. The Plough, Kelmscott, Lechlade. 01367-253543.
